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New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet”

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Scion

Scion FR-S Concept

Scion FR-S Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Another auto show, another version of Toyota and Subaru’s joint partnership rear-wheel-drive sports car. We saw Toyota’s FT-86 II concept in Geneva earlier this year, along with the chassis for Subaru’s version of the car. Now here in New York, Scion has taken the wraps off of its FR-S, a sexy little number that rides on this same platform.

FR-S, which stands for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport,” (or “friggin’ really sweet,” according to Jack Hollis, Scion’s vice president) is the automaker’s homage to the infamous AE-86 Corolla – a car that was highly praised for its lightweight body and superb balance without having to churn out a ton of power. Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer flat-four mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The FT-S rides on sharp 20-inch wheels, hiding an absolutely monstrous set of 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors that are fixed to the wheels like a motorcycle. Don’t count on those making production…

Hollis says that the FR-S’ design is inspired by the legendary Toyota 2000GT, and we can even see a bit of Lexus LF-A in the angular shapes that blend with sleek curves. This is one hot concept, and we’re told that it previews a new addition to the Scion family coming in 2012. (Yeah, we know.)

Enough with the drooling. Just give us the production car.

See the sexy FR-S for yourself in our high-res image gallery below, and hit the jump for Scion’s official press release.

Gallery: Scion FR-S Concept: New York 2011

Gallery: Scion FR-S Concept

Scion FR-S Concept

[Source: Scion]

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New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet” originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave slithers into the limelight

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jeep has enjoyed a recent string of success with the launch of its special-edition Wrangler models. The brand’s cornerstone has a faithful following, and now a new special model set to tempt devotees. Called the Mojave, this denizen of the desert comes on the heels of the Islander, Mountain and Call of Duty: Black Ops variants. The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave is inspired by its namesake (the Mojave Trail), and like all other models of this SUV, it’s built for looking good on the street while able to hold its own when the road disappears.

Slathered in paint scheme inspired by the California desert, the Wrangler Mojave wears a body-colored roof and fender flares. Underneath that wider-than-normal sheetmetal sits the wheel and tire package borrowed from the Rubicon and mineral-gray 17-inch wheels guarded by 32-inch tires. A large lizard decal sits on the hood and rear, while a black fuel-filler door and taillamp guards contrast nicely against the sand-colored paint work. Inside, the lizard theme continues with the reptile making an appearance on the dark saddle leather hides.

The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave is set to arrive in dealer showrooms this June. If you’re looking to grab this special edition, make sure you arrive with $29,195 plus $750 for destination.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave: New York 2011

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave at the 2011 New York Auto Show

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New York 2011: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave slithers into the limelight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Nissan

2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Nissan Versa – Click above for high-res image gallery

Revealed “simultaneously” as the new Tiida in Shanghai, the 2012 Nissan Versa drove onto the stage here at the 2011 New York Auto Show spouting some impressive numbers: 33 miles per gallon (combined, and 30 city/37 highway) for the low, low price of $10,990. Sure, 33 ain’t nothing compared to a Toyota Prius, but you could buy two Versas for the price of a Prius, and $10k buys a lot of gas at 33 mpg.

This is exactly the kind of thinking that Nissan wants car buyers to do, and the company is encouraging this train of thought by branding the Versa with its Pure Drive efficiency label – first applied to cars in Europe in 2008. The 2012 Versa, sporting a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and weighing 150 fewer pounds than the previous generation model, will be the first Pure Drive vehicle in the U.S. Speaking at the show, Nissan’s executive vice-president of the America, Carlos Tavares, said that this “is a real car, complete with air conditioning, vehicle dynamic control, CD/radio with aux in, electric-assisted steering and 15-inch wheels and tires.” You want more features, like satellite radio or “Fine Vision instrumentation?” They’re available of course, but they’ll cost you a bit more.

Tavares said the Versa is already the best selling car in it’s segment, and we can see Nissan selling quite a few of these if the numbers talked about today bear themselves out on the road. Check out the details in our gallery below and read plenty more in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Versa: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Nissan Versa

[Source: Nissan]

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New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki is building a car that we wish more people knew about – the Kizashi. The automaker’s mid-size sedan was featured in Suzuki’s first-ever Super Bowl ad, a modified version set a Bonneville speed record and the stock car traveled a grueling trail from Tokyo to Los Angeles. Now, Suzuki has prepared two new concept versions, showing us what might be in store for the Kizashi down the road. And believe us, are fingers are crossed that these two make it to production.

First up, the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept is a hybrid sedan that adds a touch of style to a segment rarely getting that extra dash of curb appeal. (Sorry, Ford Fusion Hybrid – you aren’t nearly as pretty as this thing.) Traditional gasoline oomph is provided courtesy of a 2.0-liter inline-four, while a 15-kilowatt motor and 115-volt, air-cooled, lithium-ion battery give the EcoCharge its electric giddy-up. Suzuki says the combination is good for a 25 percent increase over the standard Kizashi’s 30-mile-per-gallon highway fuel-economy rating. But it’s not just the hybrid powertrain providing the MPG lift – the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept is fitted with start/stop, has regenerative braking and wears low-rolling resistance tires.

To help it stand apart from its standard Kizashi siblings, Suzuki has gussied up the exterior of the EcoCharge. Unique headlights, LEDs in the fascia and a white satin paint job communicate that this Kizashi has something else going on. The LEDs also help communicate that this is still a concept, since we don’t think the local authorities would be too fond of the blue lights up front (they’re illegal, y’all).

The EcoCharge wasn’t the only sedan on the stand. On the other end of the spectrum, the automaker debuted something more focused on outright performance rather than efficiency.

Continue reading Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York…

Continue reading Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video]

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class shines in Manhattan

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class live in New York

Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fresh off of its unveiling halfway around the world at the Shanghai Motor Show, Daimler graced the squeaky-clean floors of its brand-new flagship showroom, Mercedes-Benz Manhattan, with its striking Concept A-Class.

Nestled in the corner of the 11th Avenue megaplex (five floors and over seven acres of floor space in New York City), the Concept A comes off as surprisingly dynamic for what amounts to a conventional three-door hatchback – and a static one at that (unlike the car shown in China, the New York Auto Show star only has a half-interior). And it’s not just unique details like the elaborate pinwork grille (composed of hexagonal silver nubs on blacked-out stems), the windswept headlamps or the waifish side mirrors – the whole package just somehow comes together. We’re not sure if we’re finally getting more comfortable with the blunt-nosed look that’s infiltrating the Three-Pointed-Star’s lineup (see: SLS AMG, CLS, etc.), or if it just works particularly well here, but in the metal, the Concept A-Class looks more convincing than we expected from the first batch of press images.

That’s good news, because Benz is very serious about making its next production A-Class a world car – including North America. To that end, even in showcar regalia, the Concept A has perfectly feasible mechanicals: a 2.0-liter, 210-horsepower four-cylinder from Daimler’s new M270 range driving the front wheels and shifted by a dual-clutch gearbox. It also appears to be more conventional in chassis construction, eschewing the clever (if costly) ‘sandwich’ architecture and upright profile of the original 1997 model.

When it finally arrives in production form, the next-generation A-Class will no doubt ride on smaller wheels, have a taller greenhouse, and the engine will likely nestle behind a more conventional grille. Even so, Mercedes will still be on to something if it can preserve the appeal of the Concept A-Class’ form factor.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class: New York 2011

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept

New York 2011: Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class shines in Manhattan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Lexus LF-Gh Concept shows off the new face of the brand

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Lexus

Lexus LF-Gh Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week we gave you the first look at the Lexus’ new hybrid concept car, the LF-Gh, and now we have live photos from the car’s official unveiling a day ahead of the New York Auto Show. The LF-Gh debuts Lexus’ future direction in style that includes an “aggressive and bold spindle-shaped front grille” accented by LED lighting both front and rear. The look is a departure from the brand’s generally conservative styling, and it should be interesting to see how this new fascia integrates into future Lexus production cars.

Lexus didn’t open up the doors or the hood, but says that a hybrid powerplant provides the LF-Gh’s motivation and that the interior will provide a look at future designs highlighted by a three-dimensional analog clock. You can read the full Lexus PR after the jump, or get a better look at the car in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Lexus LF-Gh Concept: New York 2011

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New York 2011: Lexus LF-Gh Concept shows off the new face of the brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Buick, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, Shanghai Motor Show

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #226 features Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Dan Roth and AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley. We start with the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and then talk about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Staying with the auto show theme, we talk about the Buick Envision that has shown up in Shanghai. Your feedback in our Q&A module winds us up, and we’ve embedded that in the post below, as well. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai Auto Shows

2012 Volkswagen Beetle
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Buick Envision Concept

In the Autoblog Garage:
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2011 Dodge Avenger Heat

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Guest: David Kiley

Runtime: 01:23:12

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Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #226: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, New York and Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chrysler 200 S and 200 S Convertible revealed ahead of New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Convertible, Sedan, Chrysler

2011 chrysler 200 s sedan and 200 s convertible

2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 200 S convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler is jumping the gun, so to speak, choosing to reveal two new family members ahead of the 2011 New York Auto Show. The 2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 2011 200 S convertible appear to be edgier than their non-S counterparts, which is because Chrysler has given them a shot in the styling arm, upping the visual appeal by a few degrees.

The 2011 200 S gets an S-specific Chrysler wing badge on the nose, body-colored side mirrors and door handles and a pair of headlamps with black backgrounds. Sitting underneath the fenders are four 18-inch aluminum wheels, which also all wear the S badge. Inside, the 200 S gets embroidered front headrests, heated leather front seats with suede inserts, suede door trim and a 276-watt Boston Acoustic audio system.

Under the hood, the 200 S gets the now-familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which is good for 283-horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an automatic transmission, the duo is good for 29 miles per gallon on the highway. The fixed-roof 200 S will set you back $26,790 while the drop-top costs $32,490. Both versions are expected to show up on dealer lots sometime this spring.

Be sure to check out the full press release posted after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and 200 S convertible

2011 Chrysler 200 S sedan and convertible 2011 Chrysler 200 S convertible

[Source: Chrysler]

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2011 Chrysler 200 S and 200 S Convertible revealed ahead of New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opinion: Shanghai Motor Show threatens to make New York redundant

Filed under: New York Auto Show, China, Shanghai Motor Show

Shanghai Struts its Stuff – Challenging the Big Apple
2011 Shanghai Motor Show entrance

Barely two decades ago, China’s roads were ruled by bicycles, motorbikes and buses.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Shanghai Convention Center was little more than a rice paddy, but this week, the sprawling facility will play host to what has rapidly become one of the world’s most important auto shows.

By a quirk of the calendar, this year’s big Chinese car show not only overlaps but threatens to overwhelm the New York Auto Show and its ability to garner valuable media time – a development that echoes the rapidly transformation occurring in the global automotive business.

Michael Dunne, the founder of Automotive Resources Asia – today a part of J.D. Power and Associates – recalls his first trip to China, barely two decades ago, when the roads were ruled by bicycles, motorbikes and buses, and the sight of an automobile was enough to draw everyone’s attention. Today, the most populous nation on Earth is also the biggest automotive market, having surpassed the U.S. two years ago, never to look back.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

[Image: Philippe Lopez/Getty]

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Opinion: Shanghai Motor Show threatens to make New York redundant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Nissan, Electric

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Nissan Leaf NISMO RC – Click above to enlarge

Nissan will unveil a racing variant of the Leaf electric car at the New York Auto Show, but the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC has little in common with its more pedestrian “sibling.” NISMO started with a lithium ion battery pack and badging from a stock Leaf, then built a completely new vehicle around it.

There are no rear doors; the carpeting, navigation and stereo system are gone; and the battery pack has been relocated to the middle of the vehicle for better weight distribution. Speaking of weight, the NISMO RC is about 40 percent lighter than the production Leaf, as a carbon fiber monocoque platform and more compact dimensions cut total weight to just 2,068 pounds. The race-ready Leaf is also a foot shorter and 6.7 inches wider, and with a scant 2.4 inches of ground clearance.

While the Nissan Leaf NISMO Nismo RC is a different animal than its production namesake, it still carries a familial resemblance, at least up front. Nissan employed LED lighting all around, a driver-adjustable rear wing and plenty of NISMO/Zero Emission graphics to ensure that onlookers know this is no fossil-fuel burner.

Nissan says the NISMO RC will be used for demonstration purposes, so don’t expect this Leaf to compete any time soon. The automaker does say, however, that it’s considering a zero-emission spec series for the future. With an estimated run time of 20 minutes under racing conditions, the 30 minute quick-charge time (to achieve 80 percent capacity) would make for some leisurely pit stops. When the Leaf NISMO RC is in motion, its 80kW AC motor generates 107 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque; good enough for a 0-60 time of 6.85 seconds and a 93-mph top speed. No land-speed records there, folks, but we’re betting this particular Leaf would be a blast to drive anyway. Hit the jump to read over Nissan’s press release.

Gallery: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York

Nissan Leaf NISMO RC set to electrify New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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